ScienceFusion®

More Than Just a Science Textbook
Grades K–8

ScienceFusion is a state-of-the-art science program designed for building inquiry and STEM skills and optimized for learning in the classroom or at home, on a laptop, tablet, or using a science textbook. The digital curriculum, virtual labs, hands-on activities, and write-in science textbook develop important critical-thinking skills that prepare students for success in future science courses and in the workplace.

ScienceFusion in your classroom

Digital lessons, write-in Student Edition, and hands-on labs

Hands-on activities and virtual labs for every lesson or every day of the week

Leveled Readers and Video-based Projects to reinforce and enrich important concepts

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Why?

HMH Field Trips powered by Google Expeditions

As a Google® content partner, HMH has developed field trips for Google Expeditions. Using a simple Google Cardboard™ device and a smartphone, students are swept away into 3D, 360-degree experiences in fascinating locations, directly tied to science content! A Teacher Guide provides ideas for incorporating the Expeditions into your lessons, as well as tips on how to guide and customize the experience.

Designed for Next Generation

ScienceFusion® is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art K–8 science program. The print, hands-on, and digital curricula provide student-centered options for all students, in any learning environment (home or school, traditional or paperless), and align to the Framework for K–12 Science Education, the foundation for NGSS*.

Multimodal Learning

ScienceFusion is a comprehensive print and digital curriculum solution that provides multimodal options for teachers to engage students in exciting, investigation-based learning. This effective, research-based program is easy to implement and fun for teachers and for students.

STEM and 21st-Century Skills

The STEM program in ScienceFusion provides real-world challenges, hands-on activities, and Video-based Projects that develop important critical-thinking skills that will prepare students for success in the workplace and in life. A new spiraled curriculum on Technology and Coding has been added for Grades 1–8, and Kindergarten has a new Technology and Engineering section.

Active reading with features to teach students how to analyze and interact with content

Virtual and Hands-on Labs for Every Lesson

The ScienceFusion lab program contains hands-on activities and virtual labs for every lesson or every day of the week. Inquiry lessons (Grades K–5) and labs (Grades 6–8) can be modified to provide three levels of inquiry: directed inquiry, guided inquiry, and independent inquiry.

*NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS and the associated logo are registered trademarks of Achieve, Inc. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. Google Cardboard and Google are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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Preview

Multimodal Learning

ScienceFusion® is a comprehensive print and digital curriculum solution that provides multimodal options for teachers to engage students in exciting, investigation-based learning. The effective, research-based program is easy to implement, fun to teach, and engaging for students.

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Table of Contents, Grades K–5

Preview the K–5 Unit topics.

Grade K

Unit 1: Doing Science

Unit 2: Animals

Unit 3: Plants

Unit 4: Habitats

Unit 5: Day and Night

Unit 6: Earth’s Resources

Unit 7: Weather and the Seasons

Unit 8: Matter

Unit 9: Energy

Unit 10: Motion

Grade 1

Unit 1: How Scientists Work

Unit 2: Technology All Around Us

Unit 3: Animals

Unit 4: Plants

Unit 5: Environments

Unit 6: Earth’s Resources

Unit 7: Weather and Seasons

Unit 8: Objects in the Sky

Unit 9: All About Matter

Unit 10: Forces and Energy

Grade 2

Unit 1: Work Like a Scientist

Unit 2: Technology and Our World

Unit 3: All About Animals

Unit 4: All About Plants

Unit 5: Environments for Living Things

Unit 6: Earth and Its Resources

Unit 7: All About Weather

Unit 8: The Solar System

Unit 9: Changes in Matter

Unit 10: Energy and Magnets

Grade 3

Unit 1: Investigating Questions

Unit 2: The Engineering Process

Unit 3: Plants and Animals

Unit 4: Ecosystems and Interactions

Unit 5: Changes to Earth’s Surface

Unit 6: People and Resources

Unit 7: Water and Weather

Unit 8: Earth and Its Moon

Unit 9: Matter

Unit 10: Simple and Compound Machines

Grade 4

Unit 1: Studying Science

Unit 2: The Engineering Process

Unit 3: Plants and Animals

Unit 4: Energy and Ecosystems

Unit 5: Weather

Unit 6: Earth and Space

Unit 7: Properties of Matter

Unit 8: Changes in Matter

Unit 9: Energy

Unit 10: Electricity

Unit 11: Motion

Grade 5

Unit 1: How Scientists Work

Unit 2: The Engineering Process

Unit 3: Cells to Body Systems

Unit 4: Living Things Grow and Reproduce

Unit 5: Ecosystems

Unit 6: Energy and Ecosystems

Unit 7: Natural Resources

Unit 8: Changes to Earth’s Surface

Unit 9: The Rock Cycle

Unit 10: Fossils

Unit 11: Earth’s Oceans

Unit 12: The Solar System and the Universe

Unit 13: Matter

Unit 14: Light and Sound

Unit 15: Forces and Motion

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Table of Contents Grade 6-8

Preview the middle school science Module topics.

Module A: Cells and Heredity

Unit 1: Cells

Unit 2: Reproduction and Heredity

Module B: The Diversity of Living Things

Unit 1: Life Over Time

Unit 2: Earth’s Organisms

Module C: The Human Body

Unit 1: Human Body Systems

Unit 2: Human Health

Module D: Ecology and the Environment

Unit 1: Interactions of Living Things

Unit 2: Earth’s Biomes and Ecosystems

Unit 3: Earth’s Resources

Unit 4: Human Impact on the Environment

Module E: The Dynamic Earth

Unit 1: Earth’s Surface

Unit 2: Earth’s History

Unit 3: Minerals and Rocks

Unit 4: The Restless Earth

Module F: Earth’s Water and Atmosphere

Unit 1: Earth’s Water

Unit 2: Oceanography

Unit 3: Earth’s Atmosphere

Unit 4: Weather and Climate

Module G: Space Science

Unit 1: The Universe

Unit 2: The Solar System

Unit 3: The Earth-Moon-Sun System

Unit 4: Exploring Space

Module H: Matter and Energy

Unit 1: Matter

Unit 2: Energy

Unit 3: Atoms and the Periodic Table

Unit 4: Interactions of Matter

Unit 5: Solutions, Acids, and Bases

Module I: Motion, Forces, and Energy

Unit 1: Motion and Forces

Unit 2: Work, Energy, and Machines

Unit 3: Electricity and Magnetism

Module J: Sound and Light

Unit 1: Introduction to Waves

Unit 2: Sound

Unit 3: Light

Module K: Introduction to Science and Technology

Unit 1: The Nature of Science

Unit 2: Measurement and Data

Unit 3: Engineering, Technology, and Society

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Authors

Meet the team that’s made ScienceFusion® the most up-to-date K–8 science program.

Michael DiSpezio - Program Author

Michael DiSpezio is a renaissance educator who segued from the research laboratory of a Nobel Prize winner to the K–12 science classroom. He has authored or coauthored numerous textbooks and trade books. For nearly a decade he worked with the JASON Project under the auspices of the National Geographic Society, where he designed curriculum, wrote lessons, and hosted dozens of studio and location broadcasts. Over the past two decades, DiSpezio has developed supplementary material for organizations and programs that include PBS's Scientific American Frontiers, Discover® Magazine, and the Discovery Channel®. To all his projects, he brings his extensive background in science and his expertise in classroom teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Dr. Michael Heithaus - Program Author

Mike Heithaus joined the Florida International University Biology Department in 2003, has served as Director of the Marine Sciences Program, and is now Director of the School of Environment and Society, which brings together the natural and social sciences and humanities to develop solutions to today's environmental challenges. His research efforts include the Shark Bay Ecosystem Project in Western Australia. He also served as a Research Fellow with National Geographic, using remote imaging in his research and hosting a Crittercam television series on the National Geographic Channel. His current research centers on predator-prey interactions among vertebrates.

Marjorie Frank - Program Author

An educator and linguist by training, a writer and poet by nature, Marjorie Frank has authored and designed a generation of instructional materials in all subject areas, including past HMH science programs. Her other credits include authoring science issues of an award-winning children's magazine; writing game-based digital assessments in math, reading, and language arts; and serving as instructional designer and coauthor of pioneering school-to-work software for a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving reading and math skills for middle and high school learners. In addition, she has served on the adjunct faculty of Hunter, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Colleges, teaching courses in science methods, literacy, and writing.

Discover® is a registered trademark of Discover Media LLC. The Discovery Channel® is a registered trademark of Discovery Communications LLC. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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What's New?

eBook Accessibility and Personalization

The ScienceFusion eBooks are now based on the HTML standard so they can be accessed from any compatible platform or device. In addition, powerful personalization functions like note-taking, highlighting, and searching are supported and saved.

Saving Student Activity

In order to maximize flexibility of students’ learning at any time and place, ScienceFusion now supports the ability for students to bookmark their location in a digital lesson and return to that same point at a later time. In addition, students’ work is saved between sessions.

21st-Century Skills

An important component of many STEM careers is the meaningful understanding of the foundations of technology, engineering, and computer coding. A new spiraled curriculum on Technology and Coding has been added for Grades 1–8 to address this need. In addition, Kindergarten has a new Technology and Engineering section.

Science & Engineering Leveled Readers

Science & Engineering Leveled Readers bring engaging science and engineering content to all students, whether they need extra support, are working at grade level, or are seeking enrichment. Thirty or more readers per grade are available as part of ScienceFusion. These readers are also available separately in print or digital formats. A leveled readers app for iPad® is also available. Teacher resource materials include guided reading and vocabulary development strategies. Both English and Spanish are supported.

Assessment

Improved Online Student Self Quiz

The design of the online Unit Self Quiz (now Self-Checks) has been improved to maximize learning effectiveness by giving students more opportunities to arrive at the correct answer.

Digital Components

For maximum flexibility, content formerly on fixed media components such as CDs and DVDs is now being made available entirely online for ease of access or download. This includes the Kindergarten Songs and Rhymes CD and the Teacher Resource DVD.

Google Expeditions

HMH is among the first to develop K–8 content for Google® Expeditions. Using a simple Google Cardboard™ device and a smartphone, students are swept away into immersive virtual worlds where learning and engagement are maximized. Teachers have a lot of flexibility in customizing the experience for each classroom. A Teacher's Guide will provide ideas for ways to incorporate Expeditions into your classroom lessons.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*

ScienceFusion was initially developed at a time when the National Research Council (NRC) Framework for K–12 Science Education was published. The NRC’s work serves as the foundation to the NGSS in the form of disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and scientific and engineering practices. ScienceFusion incorporates these three dimensions of learning described by the Framework and can serve as a solid preparation for a full NGSS curriculum. To facilitate this transition, NGSS correlations are provided in the Teacher Editions and online materials.

iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Cardboard is a trademark and Google is a registered trademark of Google, Inc.*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. Common Cartridge® (CC®) is a trademark of IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
ScienceFusion® and ScienceSaurus® are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Science & Engineering Leveled Readers

The Science & Engineering Leveled Readers provide solutions for entire classrooms and individual learners. With print and digital options, these Leveled Readers can be used to maximize student success. Each grade includes a Teacher Guide, which provides support before reading, during reading, and during response to reading activities.

Three Levels of Support

Readers are available for a wide variety of science and engineering topics at three reading levels: Extra Support, On Level, and Enrichment. The readers are available in both English and Spanish.

Teacher Guide

The Teacher Guide for each grade provides teaching strategies and activities for using each of the Readers, as well as reproducible English and Spanish worksheets. On-Level and Extra-Support worksheets focus on vocabulary development, while Enrichment worksheets reinforce and enrich content. The Teacher Guide includes a correlation to Next Generation Science Standards*.

Next Generation Science Standards

The Science & Engineering Leveled Readers combined with ScienceSaurus® provide coverage of the Disciplinary Core Ideas within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). (The Teacher Guide includes a correlation to NGSS*.)

Common Core Standards for English Language Arts

The Leveled Readers provide nonfiction (informational) text selections as required by the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

Range of Readability Levels

With a wide range of readability levels at each grade, you can be sure to find age- and grade-level-appropriate text, along with plenty of nonfiction (informational) text selections to choose from (up to Lexile® measure 1160).

*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. Lexile® is a trademark of MetaMetrics, Inc., and is registered in the United States and abroad. ScienceFusion® and ScienceSaurus® are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Digital Curriculum

ScienceFusion’s® Interactive Digital Curriculum is an award-winning, research-proven way to teach science in a familiar, engaging, online environment. Through continuous interaction via simulations, animations, videos, Virtual Labs, Video-Based Projects, and assessments, students are active participants in the learning process.

Digital Lessons and Virtual Labs

With an alternative digital experience for every write-in textbook lesson, ScienceFusion’s highly engaging Digital Lessons and Virtual Labs teach the same content, vocabulary, and inquiry skills, but in a completely different way.

The Virtual Labs review important concepts developed in the previous lessons while providing students with the virtual equipment and procedural structure to complete investigations in a way not always practical with hands-on experiences. Student progress can be tracked using the Virtual Lab Data Sheets, which can be saved and emailed or printed for assignment purposes.

Teacher Online Management Center Dashboard

The new Teacher Dashboard makes it even easier to manage classes and assignments. All ThinkCentral features and functions can still be accessed easily, but you now have the tools to quickly view today’s plans as well as performance and progress indicators. It’s never been easier to stay informed and organized!

Resources

Launch eBooks, workbooks, and other resources directly from the Teacher Dashboard.

Assignments

View the status of recent assignments and quickly access all ThinkCentral assignments and prescriptions.

Reports

Search

Search for resources and lessons by standard or keyword, just like your favorite Internet search engine.

Browse

Find resources in a table of contents view or view by standards.

New mySmartPlanner!

The existing planner has been redesigned to offer a more robust, intuitive, and flexible planning experience. Some of the many benefits include more customization, new search features, and easier access to lesson plans and resources:

Teaching Blocks: Easily create teaching and non-teaching blocks, which can be customized right in your planner view.

Planning: Auto-schedule recommended lesson plans for the entire year. Customize lesson plans and save them for next year!

Reports: Print daily and weekly plans containing details of the standards covered, as well as the resources and lessons scheduled.

NSTA SciLINKS®

Found at point of use in each unit to extend and expand your students’ understanding of unit concepts and skills. These resources are vetted by scientific experts at NSTA, so you can be assured they are exemplary resources and safe surfing for students.

Video-based Projects (Grades 3–8)

These inquiry-based projects, focusing on STEM, ecology, and biotechnology, consist of a video, teacher support pages, and student activity worksheets. Featuring program authors Mike Heithaus and Michael DiSpezio, these engaging, fun episodes reinforce unit concepts through interaction and are perfect for whole-class instruction on a whiteboard.

Media Gallery

A comprehensive gallery of images from the Student Edition that can be used by teachers or students to create their own presentations and projects.

Unit Self-Checks (Grades 1–5)

The online unit self-assessment quiz is a fun, informative way to give students a view of their strengths and weaknesses.

People in Science

A collection of multimedia biographies of scientists, historical and contemporary, featuring scientific careers of the past, present, and future.

Student Edition Audio

Students can listen online or download full audio of their textbook to their mobile devices.

SciLINKS® is a registered trademark of the National Science Teachers Association. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Write-in Student Edition

The latest research on 21st-century students tells us today’s digital natives are more visually oriented. To accommodate this learning style, the design of the Write-in Student Edition is a dynamic and motivating magazine-style format that will engage your students and make them want to actually use their text. This format also makes the acquisition of science content a natural process for all students—both left- and right-brain learners.

Innovative, Interactive Content Delivery

Students using ScienceFusion® are developing critical-thinking and reading skills by interacting with the engaging verbal and visual blend of content. Active engagement with the text has been documented by research to significantly increase achievement.

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Hands-on Activities

The ScienceFusion® lab program is a comprehensive hands-on program designed to include activities for every lesson that address a variety of student levels, inquiry levels, time availability, and materials.

Inquiry Flipcharts (Grades K–5)

The inquiry flipcharts deliver three levels—directed, guided, and independent—of hands-on inquiry for every lesson. The laminated flipcharts can be placed on a table for centers or small-group areas, so students can work as lab partners or in collaborative groups.

Lab Manuals (Grades 6–8)

The middle grades lab program is designed to include activities that address a variety of student levels, inquiry levels, time availability, and materials. Each unit includes multiple Quick Labs in every lesson and four additional labs that require one or more class periods to complete—Exploration, Field, and STEM labs.

Quick Labs

Short activities at point of use to help concept development

Exploration Labs

Traditional labs designed to be used with standard equipment and materials

Field Labs

Designed to be partially or completely performed outside the classroom

STEM Labs

Activities that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

STEM and 21st-Century Skills

STEM Features

An important component of many STEM careers is the meaningful understanding of the foundations of technology, engineering and computer coding. A new spiraled curriculum on Technology and Coding has been added for Grades 1–8 to address this need. Additionally, Kindergarten has a new Technology and Engineering section.

Grades 1–5

For each grade level, Unit 2 is dedicated to the engineering design process. ScienceFusion® provides STEM lessons and hands-on activities that incorporate and develop 21st-century skills and are rooted in the science being taught in the lesson. In every unit beyond Units 1 and 2, there is a feature in the Student Edition called Engineering and Technology. This focuses on an aspect of Engineering and also includes a specific technology as an application of science. A STEM activity accompanies the Engineering and Technology feature, and this activity appears in the Inquiry Flipchart. The activity gives students an opportunity to apply the engineering design process.

The engineering design process used throughout Grades 1–5 focuses on these steps:

Find a Problem

Plan and Build

Test and Improve

Redesign

Communicate

Grades 6–8

Each module includes four pages, on a unit level, of STEM activities designed to provide background, a challenge, and an activity that connects students to the engineering design process. Additional STEM support is found in the Lab Manual. STEM Labs focus on hands-on activities that highlight the development of design and engineering skills.

Video-based Projects

These inquiry-based projects consist of a video, teacher support pages, and student activity worksheets. There are three to four Video-based Projects per grade level in Grades 3 through 8 focusing on STEM, Ecology, and Biotechnology—available online at point of use. They are also referenced at point of use on the Unit Planning pages in the Teacher Edition.

Science & Engineering Leveled Readers (Grades K–5)

Brand new Science & Engineering Leveled Readers bring engaging science and engineering content to students who need extra support, students who are working at grade level or students who are ready for enrichment. Approximately 30 readers per grade are integrated into the online portion of ScienceFusion in English and Spanish. These readers are also available in print or as an iPad® app. Guided reading and vocabulary development strategies are a part of the teacher resource materials.

iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Next Generation Science Standards

ScienceFusion—Your Pathway to Next Generation Learning

ScienceFusion® was built upon the same framework as the NGSS*, the Three Dimensions of Learning. This foundation, the Framework for K–12 Science Education (by the National Research Council), was available at the time ScienceFusion was developed.

*NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS and the associated logo are registered trademarks of Achieve, Inc. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Unit Planning

Start with the unit planning pages to review and plan how to teach using the print program, digital curriculum, hands-on inquiry, or your own personalized blend of all three.

Lesson Planning

Lesson support gives you background knowledge and strategies to develop inquiry skills, along with detailed learning goals and supporting concepts for each key topic.

Teaching Tips

Suggestions and estimated times for each activity help you select the right lesson for your students and plan your time effectively.

Online Teaching and Planning

ScienceFusion is a comprehensive, multimodal science program that provides all the digital tools teachers need to engage students in inquiry-based learning. The Teacher Online Management Center, is designed to make it easier for teachers to access program resources to plan, teach, assess, and track.

Program resources can be easily previewed in PDF format and downloaded for editing.

Assign and schedule resources online, and they will appear in your students’ inboxes.

All quizzes and tests can be taken and automatically scored online.

Easily monitor and track student progress.

Assessment Options

ScienceFusion assessment options give you maximum flexibility in assessing what your students know and what they can do. Both the print and digital options include formative and summative assessment. Program resources can be easily previewed in PDF format and downloaded for editing.

Assessment Guide

The Assessment Guide is your directory to assessment in the program. All tests are available and editable in ExamView® and online at thinkcentral.com. The print Assessment Guide includes:

Unit Reviews, Pre-Tests, and Post-Tests

Alternative Assessments

Performance-Based Assessments

Answer Keys

Online Assessment

The Online Assessment includes

Assignable, leveled assessments for individuals

Customizable lesson quizzes and unit tests

Individual and whole-class reporting

NSTA Professional Development

HMH’s partnership with National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) provides custom professional development for every unit. Professional Development materials are a mix of online learning objects, journal and book chapter materials, and other various resources. Teachers have 24/7 access to quality professional development from the science experts.

ExamView

Editable quizzes and tests are available in ExamView®. You can customize a quiz or test by adding or deleting items, revising difficulty levels, changing formats, revising sequence, and editing items. Students can take quizzes and tests directly online.

ExamView® is a registered trademark of Turning Technologies, LLC. ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Available Digital Formats

HMH eTextbooks

eTextbooks include all of the content from the print Student Edition. Available for all major devices, additional functionality may include zoom & resize, scroll, text and keyword web search, bookmark, and notes.

Online Editions

Our interactive Online Editions include all of the content of the print textbook, plus ancillary items and interactive elements, such as video and quizzes. With the purchase of Online Student Editions, teachers also have access to all Teacher Resources as well as all Student Resources. Compatible with desktop, laptop, and netbook computers.

ScienceFusion® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

HMH Professional Services

Our Mission Is to Advance Yours

HMH Professional Services forges student-centered partnerships with schools and districts in the belief that all learners deserve a quality education and the opportunity for lifelong success.

HMH Professional Services includes teachers, leaders, and technologists. Our Professional Learning Consultants become part of your team, working right beside you to build and implement professional learning plans that respect the unique needs and culture of your school or district community. Through program, practice, and technical services, we work collaboratively to unlock the full potential of every student, teacher, and leader.

Comprehensive Services for K–12 Educators

We offer teachers and instructional leaders a full suite of learning and support to deepen their mastery and hone their teaching skills throughout the school year.